CallMeLee

I just came back from my Tokyo trip and used this provider exclusively: https://mens-salon-saboten.com/en/staff/ Their roster is not as extensive as other shops but I left satisfied 4 out of the 4 times I visited. Shop is a quick walk from Shinjuku Gyoemmae station but I am unable to comment about their facilities as I was hosted in a hotel room nearby as they seem to be fully booked.

I'm pleading the fifth. 😁 I was sifting through the Japan forum planning a trip - then this piece of news disrupted my plans! Fingers crossed the new bar will be a success.

Any idea how tipping works in these places? I'm curious as tipping is not expected in Japan - and some might perceive it as offensive.

I think diamond emoji means something else? (i.e. crystal meth)

Your trip report is such a joy to read @sudoxi! Can't help but wax nostalgic about my first time exploring the boy bar scene many moons ago.

I've visited SSENSE quite a number of times during the last three years. I've always been asked to leave a review but didn't bother to post or update the first one I made. I agree that google reviews doesn't have much bearing for me for shops such as this ---- since it leaves out the detail that I am most interested in. The same can be said for rankings or the order their profile will be placed in the booking site. I will still scroll past their most decorated and awarded staff and keep scrolling down till I find the profile that makes my heart skip a beat.

Yeah. Will depend mostly on the duration. I know some customers who will stay cuddled up with their chosen guy for the entire night without intention to off. I'm hoping the boy will receive a tip commensurate to that. In my case, doing the vibe check, due diligence, expectation setting etc. doesn't take so much time. So if they failed the vibe check within the first 10 minutes, I immediately send them back to rotation with a 100 baht note. If I may add a question - what's the expectation when you call a guy from stage to join you? Should you buy him drink immediately or is it alright to chat for a few minutes to decide if you want him to stay for drinks?

Not a definitive answer but based from experience: They will stay as long as you keep the drinks flowing (which can be pricey unless you avail of their bottle service). They will leave everytime they have to do their stage work as their endgame is to be offed. Once the topic of being offed is breached and there's mutual understanding that it will not progress to that stage, handing them a tip is the universal code for saying thanks and you are sending them back to rotation.

Yeah, it's hard to imagine visiting Thailand without these iconic institutions! 😄 But here's the thing: if I go for the bar boy service during the day, that's dipping into my 'daytime fun' budget. Not that it means I’ll skip the nightlife—I’m still clocking in when the sun goes down! It's really the naughty massages that'll be competing and missing out on my Baht if I take the plunge with Option 3.

Yeah. I tried this option a couple of times (as per the boy's suggestion). Saves time and baht as well i.e. entrance plus boy drinks plus tips do add up at the end of the night. The only downside is you will miss out the entire bar experience --- if you like and enjoy those kind of things. Maybe you can mix it up. First few days visit the bar to scope the lay of the land then focus on your 'reliables' when the bar scene loses its novelty. There's actually a third option - meet the 'reliable' boy outside bar hours (they need to be at the bar around 8pm) and no need to pay off fee.

Given that Saphan Khwai shops originally catered to local clients—and I believe a significant portion of their current business still comes from local patrons—the 100 THB savings per session can be a good deal for them. However, for more transient customers like us, this may not offer optimal value.

Yeah. Bangkok. Suvarnabhumi to Pattaya will be thb 1100 via Klook.

Same. I don't trust myself and my sense of direction after a long flight. But I pre-book taxi via Klook app and depending on car of your choice (i.e standard to more comfy SUV) , cost will be between 500 - 900 baht toll included.

Glad to hear you had a great session with Tongtong. I have several favourites at SSENSE but when it comes to scrub, I always choose him.

Thanks. Everything summed up to 4.7K including the tip I added the following morning. Amount not within my usual budget range but I decided to treat myself as it was my last night. And did I mention that he smiled at me?! 😂 😍🤪

Highlights, Lowlights, Rants, Raves and Reflections ✓Tawan – Still Finding Its Footing As much as it pains me, Tawan was a lowlight this time around. There are glimmers of the old charm I loved, but they seem to be struggling post-closure. Fingers crossed this is just a transitional phase! ✓Prince & SSENSE Reliable as ever. No complaints here—just solid, dependable fun. ✓Arena I’ve rekindled my love for Arena and found myself visiting more frequently than usual. Maybe it’s to compensate for the Tawan disappointment? Either way, it’s a win. ✓Good Boys Good Boys is becoming a personal favorite. If the rumors are true and they’re moving to Sol bar’s old space, that’s exciting! Their current roster deserves more room to shine. ✓Banana Banana is stepping up in showmanship, but they need more variety in their boy lineup. And please, can we have more frequent visibility? Performances can drag on while the boys disappear into the ether. ✓Jupiter – Surprise of the Trip Jupiter was a pleasant surprise! Maybe it’s a fluke or the low-season magic, but it really stood out this time. ✓Moonlight – Still zero offs from me Still haven’t offed anyone from Moonlight. Can’t put my finger on it, but the vibe just isn’t doing it for me. Maybe a dash of sleaze would help? Lol. ✓Hotmale – Entertaining Yet Predictable Hotmale is fun, but the lineup hasn’t changed much. It’s starting to feel a little too predictable. Still worth a visit. ✓Saphan Kwai Shops These shops are starting to claim a larger share of my trip funds—and I’m not mad about it. ✓Dreamboys My last two visits unfortunately was a lackluster experience . I’m hoping they can reignite the magic soon. The stage feels empty and performance is meh at best. Are they still imposing the "Thai only" policy? ✓Repeat Offs Lately, I’ve been gravitating toward reliability and consistency over variety. It’s a shift from my usual cravings for novelty. ✓Routine Setting In? This is my third trip report, and I’m noticing a lot of my experiences while personally satisfying, are becoming routinary. In some of my visits at Arena, SSENSE, Dreamboys—there’s nothing particularly new to report, so I’ve omitted some details. I’m considering switching up my reporting style next time—shorter, plus snappier. Don't want to bore you guys with my extended waffling about some random stuff. Lol. Let me know if this new approach will work! Till next time! 😃

I had to take out a small loan from the nearby Kasikorn Bank to afford him, but did I mention he was smiling!? Lol. Kidding aside, it was a few hundred baht more—nay, a thousand—than usual. But with the planets aligned and it being my last night, it would've been a shame not to celebrate such a rare occurrence. Agree. I think to some extent, fresh boys got the mix correct with boy performance and showcase neatly interspersed in between drag/lady boy numbers. I have to mention Hotmale as well but their boys do 100% of performance. Not that I'm complaining!

I'm so happy to be able to complete this trip report (albeit the delay) as promised! ------------------- Come evening, I decided to try my luck with a two-hour session at Prime Massage. Fortunately, I only had to wait about 10 minutes. They directed me to their other location, just a few steps away. This time, I was greeted by a particularly cute masseur. To avoid any unnecessary trouble, I took a cold shower beforehand—I had every intention of not getting myself banned from such a good massage spot. Lol. Dinner followed at Foodland, and that’s when I realized I haven’t visited Jupiter yet. Now, it’s not that I’m a fan of their boys sporting their 'constipated model' looks, but I always make it a point to spread the love by visiting each bar at least once during my trips. After dinner and some people-watching at my usual Starbucks (Montien), I made my way toward Jupiter, reminding myself that I have to choose between and invite either 7 or Nine afterwards. When I arrived, the show was just starting, and the models were parading around. To my utter surprise, I counted four or five of them actually making eye contact and giving me proper, engaging smiles. While some stuck to the 'constipated model' brief, these five melted my heart. I almost orgasmed on the spot! Lucky for me, three out of the five were "offable" by my standards. The show kicked off with an adorable guy singing Ed Sheeran and some R&B covers. I found him utterly charming, though not in a sexual, offable way. I called over a waiter and asked him to deliver my tip. Cutie singer smiled and waved, and I waved back. After his set, as he was leaving, he passed by, shook my hand, and flashed that cute smile again. I absentmindedly watched the rest of the show. By now, the place was packed, and the mamasans weren't pushing too hard to sell time with the boys—there wasn't even space to sit! Once the show ended and the crowd thinned out, the boys returned with their numbers pinned on, working the stage. I spotted two of my earlier smiling guys, still available, so I wasted no time summoning the first one to make eye contact again. His name is Sun. As his drink arrived, we started chatting, covering the usual questions. A mamasan tried to be "helpful" but with my experience at Screwboys, I politely smiled and said, “Thanks, but I’ve got it. Not my first time.” He promptly vanished and moved on to another table. With the vibe check going well, and all details sorted (time commitment, expectations, and finances), Sun and I left the club, grabbed some snacks from 7-11, and headed back to my hotel. The night—and the following morning—were great. We had a good laugh when he climaxed, unloading buckets. He shyly explained he hadn't been offed in a week, so it had been building up. As we lay cuddled together, I couldn't help but reflect on the unexpected turn of events. Here I was, cuddling with a Jupiter boy! Quite the change from my original plan. And a first since ages ago! The last time I offed someone from Jupiter was when they were at their old location. Maybe the universe had a different plan for me for my last nit. Perhaps I need to open my mind a bit more about Jupiter on my next trip!

This was my second time with Nine on this trip, and my fourth overall. The experience was just as enjoyable as ever, though some of his stories and banter were starting to get a bit repetitive—like how he used to work in construction in Bangkok before switching to being a bar boy because it’s more fun and pays better. It can get a little monotonous, but the image of him as a construction worker always gives me a little thrill. Such a fantasy! When we arrived at the hotel, everything fell into place like clockwork. Nine put our 7-11 haul in the fridge while I started microwaving the snacks we bought. He even washed the cups and cutlery I’d been too lazy to clean before I left, which left me feeling a bit embarrassed but also giggling inside at how domesticated we seemed—like a couple. We had a lively conversation over drinks and snacks. When we eventually ran out of topics, Nine suggested we head to the shower, which I definitely didn’t decline. I took my time, savoring the moment and appreciating the fine-looking gentleman with me. It’s a shame the room didn’t have a bathtub! We continued our session on the bed, and afterward, we spent the rest of the night and early morning with him watching random stuff on his phone while I cuddled up next to him. Normally, I get annoyed when guys are glued to their phones during downtime, but this time it didn’t bother me at all. I enjoyed relaxing while he had his space, taking thoughtful breaks every now and then to smile and give me a quick kiss. I couldn’t complain. Nine left after breakfast, marking the start of my last full day before heading home. I’m playing it cool today, feeling quite satisfied with the “boy buffet” Bangkok has offered me this time around. I made a mental note to skip the bars and just choose between 7 or Nine for my final hurrah. With most of my stuff already packed and my shopping list completed (a rare feat!), I had a full afternoon and evening to enjoy. For my last boy massage of the trip, I headed to Prince Spa around 4 p.m. It wasn’t busy—there was a reasonable number of boys available, and the Papasan said more were on the way. I wasn’t complaining, though, because the current roster was already making it hard to choose. That’s when I spotted Boat, the guy I’d chosen last time and had a great time with. I wasn’t in the mood for risks, so I made the safe choice. “Nice to see you again,” Boat said as he led me to the room. One thing to note: the massage area is so dark, with only LED candles lighting the way. I’m always a little panicked, thinking I’ll bump into a wall while navigating the place. As expected, Boat didn’t disappoint. The intensity and passion he brought to the session surprised me, and I found myself reciprocating more than usual. Being at the end of my trip, my energy level was low, but his enthusiasm was contagious, and I felt my energy rise. I left feeling satisfied and made sure my tip reflected that. As I walked back to the hotel, I felt like I was floating from the amazing session. Last part to be continued.....

Somewhere around Sukhumvit/Nana Area. I vaguely remember panicking a bit that 7 might be taking me to a girly gogo bar! 😂

One great thing about "repeat offs" is that they eliminate much of the guesswork, allowing you to focus purely on enjoying the moment. Though, I must admit, not every repeat is a hit; some just don't sparkle as much the second time around. Since it was still fairly early, 7 and I headed to Starbucks Montien for a bit of relaxation and chit-chat. Bad move. After snapping a pic of his drink for social media, he seemed... bored. Apparently, there aren't many Surawong people-watching enthusiasts like me! As much as I wanted to unbox and appreciate this fine specimen, I wasn't quite ready to return to the hotel. So, I asked where he’d like to go. Unsurprisingly, his response was the classic, "up to you." Determined to stir things up, I pressed further. "If I were a friend, where would you take me for a fun night?" He got the hint, hailed a taxi, and we ended up at some random bar outside Silom. I can't recall the name, but thank heavens it wasn't an EDM club. The live band played a mix of Thai and English songs, and the vibe was delightfully chill. I genuinely enjoyed myself, and from his smile, I'd say he did too. Afterward, we were starving. We glanced around but nothing caught our eye, so we opted for a delivery via app on our taxi ride back. While waiting in the lobby for our food, he took more selfies—this guy loves the camera. Dinner was peaceful back in the room. He watched TV, while I simply lay there, admiring his beauty. An innocent shower together followed, and we settled in for a good night's sleep. (Okay, kidding. Horizontal calisthenics were obviously part of the deal.) The next morning, around 11am, he left, suggesting we hit another bar later. Tempting, but my trip was nearing its end. In the afternoon, I treated myself to a scrub and massage combo with Tongtong at SSENSE. Normally, I prefer more "legit" spas for scrubs, but after my first session with Tongtong three trips ago, it's now a must-do. Not only does he do a fantastic job, but he's easy on the eyes too. He's a bit reserved, but after four sessions, he's loosened up a bit. The rest of the afternoon was spent finishing up my shopping and packing my haul. By the time I was done, I was exhausted but determined not to let the night slip away. Playing it safe, I messaged Nine from Banana, who was more than happy to meet for a late 11pm dinner. I got a bit nervous when he mentioned he was still with a client, so I gave him 15 minutes before I’d move on to Plan B. Just as I was about to bail, in he walked, all smiles.

Sending good vibes your way! Here’s hoping your next Thailand trip is ten times the fun and packed with all the sexiness you missed out on this time around!

What’s great about Nine—and why he’s on my repeat-off list—is that he’s got this whole “straight buddy who’s unusually generous with his body” vibe going. Sure, his English is patchy, but he’s so friendly language barrier hardly matters and you almost forget you’re dealing with a bar boy. The whole experience is like hanging out with a mate where things eventually escalated to something sexy (now that is the fantasy!) So there I was, waking up wrapped around this absolute specimen, feeling like I’d won the lottery. Honestly, moments like these are what remind me why I fly all the way to Thailand. All the planning, the flights, the hassle—it all melts away when you wake up to that. After a morning session that nearly made us miss the hotel breakfast, Nine took off—but not before dropping the golden nugget that I could message him directly next time. No need to schlep into the bar—though, of course, I’d still need to pay the off fee. This was music to my ears because by this point in my trip, the bar scene had gone from fun to monotonous and predictable. Skipping the cover fee, the boy drinks, and the tips? Yes, please. And hey, the bar still gets its off fee, so it’s a win-win. Looking for some new inspiration, I scoured the forum and landed on Ganymede Spa. One glowing review from TotallyOz of a certain masseur had me sold, so I made contact. I sent a photo of the guy I was after, and the spa confirmed: Mr. Tony is available and ready. Thinking I was being clever, I grabbed a cheap taxi during off-peak hours. Big mistake. I entered the spa’s location—Pathumwan Resort—into the app, and it led us straight to a random empty lot one block away. Google Maps? Equally useless. My driver was all apologies, pointing frantically at the map, and I decided to just walk it. Asking him to reroute would’ve felt like wandering into a black hole of wasted time. Once I was inside the so-called “resort” (jury’s still out on why they call it that), I had a bit of trouble finding the spa. Turns out, the signage is barely there, and my internal GPS? Not exactly a feature. Tony was already waiting as I chatted with the staff about the packages. The one-hour standard was 700 baht, and they tried to upsell me on a B2B massage for an extra 200 or 300 baht. I passed, and they still filled Tony in on what I’d chosen. The spa was clean, but the communal bathroom was a bit of a downer. For the price, I was expecting a touch more luxury. To be fair, the bathroom did have that high-end look—marble floors and walls, very chic. Tony’s massage was more than decent, and the extras? Well, that forum recommendation didn’t steer me wrong. Tony surprised me with a B2B massage anyway, and who am I to say no to a free upgrade? He was passionate, attentive, and hit all the right spots—literally and figuratively. Oh, and I should mention: Tony is very easy on the eyes. After we were done, we lay there catching our breath, still locked in a pretty cozy embrace. He gestured for me to shower, which I reluctantly did—though I was in for another surprise when Tony followed me in. This wasn’t exactly a private bathroom situation, so it was unexpected but… I wasn’t mad about it. We took turns washing each other, which gave me more chances to admire his, uh, assets and sneak in a few cheeky extras. Needless to say, I made sure Tony’s tip reflected my enthusiastic appreciation for all the pleasant surprises. Feeling pretty pleased with myself, I took a leisurely stroll over to Platinum Mall, just a kilometer away. That’s when I had an epiphany: “Ganymede Spa + Platinum Mall” might just be my new favorite combo, like the way “Chatuchak + Saphan Kwai shops” has always been my go-to weekend pair. By nightfall, #7 from Good Boys shot me a Line message, asking when I’d be taking him off again. I asked what he wanted to do, and I got the classic "up to you" response. After some pressing, he admitted he was sleepy, bored, and just wanted to get out of the bar. A plan I could totally get behind. So, I rolled into Good Boys around 9 p.m. I had a quick chat with the mamasan while lounging on the couch outside, then asked if I could off #7 on the spot. A few minutes later, out came #7 in his street clothes, grinning from ear to ear.

Yay! Stoked to be corrected as Siam Heritage do have competitive rates from time to time.

To be on the safe side, your reservation should be for two. Some forum members mentioned that Siam Heritage is not joiner friendly?